Seeking Advice on 2005 Diesel Lexus IS Engine Troubles - Possible EGR Valve Issue?

Hey there, I've got a 2005 Lexus IS which had a very similar problem a while back. I'm not a car whizz, just your average car owner, so I've only got some experience with this sort of thing. I took my car to my local workshop. They plugged it into their system and ran a diagnostic, which indicated that the EGR valve was defective and stuck. They had to replace the whole thing. Set me back about 355 Euro. You might be dealing with the same issue based on your description. It'd massively help narrowing this down if you could share more about your IS's behavior particularly when it loses power or shuts off. Does it happen right after starting the car or after a while? Also, have you noticed a spike in fuel consumption? These bits can tie the story together and give a clearer direction. Hope this helps and keep us posted!

Hey, thanks for responding. My Lexus has clocked up to 79,547 KM now. The unusual engine cutoff usually happens when I'm coming to a stop after driving for a while, but not always. Sometimes I also have trouble starting it up again after it shuts off. Also, definitely noticed my car's been eating up more fuel than usual. I had its last service about 2 months ago, but this issue started showing up much after that. Really seems like the same story as yours. Gonna ask my workshop to run a diagnostic focusing on the EGR valve like you suggested. Hope it doesn’t drill a hole in my pocket, fingers crossed. Cheers!

Hey there, glad to hear back from you. And uhoh, your experience does sound eerily similar to what I dealt with. That increase in fuel consumption and engine cut-off particularly at stops can indeed point a finger toward the EGR valve malfunctioning, so you're on the right track! My diesel Lexus IS was also guzzling a lot more fuel around the time the valve got stuck. Since you mentioned the trouble starting up again, might also be worth getting your battery checked while you're at it. My mechanic told me that a weak battery can amplify these nasty symptoms. Remember, your in this forum paid 355 Euro for replacing his EGR valve - be mentally prepared! Hopefully it's just your EGR valve causing all the chaos and nothing more serious or expensive. Fingers crossed it's a quick (and cheap!) fix for you bloke. Do let us know how it pans out. Good luck!

Hey again, thanks for pointing out the battery bit! I completely overlooked that one. Getting that checked alongside could save me a trip back to the workshop if the problem persists. And as for the costs, thanks for bracing me - guess I'm in for a bit of a wallet shock. But if it sorts out my lovely Lexus, that's a pill I'm willing to swallow. Really appreciate your help. Hopefully, it's just the EGR valve acting up and not something more disastrous. Will definitely keep you posted on how it unfolds. Cheers and fingers crossed!